Image via the OVC
Red-hot shooting from three-point range powered Tennessee State to a dominant 93–67 victory over Morehead State in the Ohio Valley Conference Championship Game, punching the Tigers’ ticket to the NCAA Tournament.
The Tigers came out firing on all cylinders, particularly on the offensive end, where they connected on six of their first seven attempts from beyond the arc. A Tennessee State team that normally shoots just 31.9 percent from three-point range caught fire early, knocking down an incredible 12 of its 15 attempts from deep in the opening half.
Buoyed by the torrid outside shooting, Tennessee State quickly built a double-digit lead that ballooned to as many as 21 points. The Tigers carried that momentum into halftime with a commanding 55–34 advantage.
Travis Harper II, Dante Harris, and Aaron Nkrumah led the long-range barrage, combining to shoot 11-of-14 from beyond the arc. Harper was a perfect 5-for-5 from deep, while Nkrumah knocked down both of his attempts. Harris added four three-pointers on seven attempts.
Tennessee State opened the second half sluggishly, allowing Morehead State to chip away at the lead. The Eagles trimmed the deficit to 12 points when Josiah Legree drilled a three-pointer to make the score 68–56 with 11:00 remaining.
The Tigers eventually regained their footing, pushing the lead back to 17 on a pair of Nkrumah free throws that made the score 75–58. From there, Tennessee State maintained control and cruised to the 93–67 victory.
The Tigers’ 93 points set a new record for the most points scored in an OVC Championship game.
Antoine Lorick III led four Tennessee State players in double figures with 18 points. Harper added 17 points, while Harris and Carlous Williams finished with 16 points each. Harris also grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds, and Nkrumah contributed 16 points and six assists.
The victory marks Tennessee State’s first conference tournament championship since 1994. For first-year head coach Nolan Smith and the Tigers, the next stop is the NCAA Tournament, where they will learn their opponent and destination on Selection Sunday.
